ICICE, UAE embassy want expansion of medical outreach in FCT

The International Centre for Islamic Culture and Education (ICICE) has urged the Federal Government, non-governmental organisations and individuals to urgently intervene in providing medical supports for FCT residents, especially those living at the suburbs. The Head of medical team of the ICICE, Dr Amina Kumalia, made the call on Sunday at Durumi Village (Community) after […]

The International Centre for Islamic Culture and Education (ICICE) has urged the Federal Government, non-governmental organisations and individuals to urgently intervene in providing medical supports for FCT residents, especially those living at the suburbs.

The Head of medical team of the ICICE, Dr Amina Kumalia, made the call on Sunday at Durumi Village (Community) after Mpape, FCT during the second medical outreach of the centre, sponsored by the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Abuja.

The outreach featured health talk, consultation, check-up, provision of drugs and referrals.

“Even when there are doctors, there are no drugs; most of the times they were asked to buy drugs and majority are low income earners, and they don’t have the money and thus resort to local herbal care. So we urged the government to come to their aids here and elsewhere especially the remote areas.

“There are many pregnant women here who do not attend ante-natal clinics and when there are complications, there are no specialists to attend to them. 

“The peoples said it was the local birth attendants that attend to them and they can only give them pain relievers or antibiotics. So, the government needs to act to save the situation,” she said.

Speaking earlier, the UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Fahad Al-Taffaq, said they were delighted to offer the humanitarian medical services to the people of the village to tackle common diseases and endemics facing the people of the area.

“We also noticed the equality of the people, as this tally with the UAE’s government declaration of this year as the year of tolerance. We all accept people of all faith and background. 

“I am happy that people here are from all races and background and we hope this would bring prosperity to the people and to see them develop to productive members of this country,” Taffaq said.

Also, the Director General of the ICICE, Dr Kabir Kabo Usman, said the target were 500 residents, but that the way things were, the population would be more than that.

He however said they made additional provisions to cater for the medical need of the people.

On his part, the Director, External Relations, Research and Consultancy, Garba Sani, said the medical outreach was the second after the first medical services to about 1,000 residents in Karu, a suburb in Abuja.

Two leaders of the community, Mallam Saleh Muhammad and Mr. John Megida, expressed gratitude to the sponsors of the medical outreach.